Sunday, May 04, 2008
A+E, In this Issue...
Clash of the summer movie titans
SP handicaps 10 head-to-head multiplex match-ups
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway in Get Smart
Even though we’re still waking up to 40-degree temperatures, summer—at least as it’s observed by the entertainment-industrial complex—is already upon us. With the release of “Iron Man” this weekend, the summer movie season kicks into gear, as studios pelt us with a barrage of popcorn action flicks, superhero slugfests, TV series extensions and big-ticket comedies. Just to make things interesting, we’ve taken 20 of the biggest films and pitted them against each other to see which ones will reign supreme. On the pages that follow, you’ll also find 10 other movies worth seeing, and a list of film festivals and other cinematic happenings to enjoy over the next few months. As always, release dates are subject to change.
I. BIGGEST SUMMER MOVIE EVENT
IRON MAN vs. INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
THE CONTEST: With a smarter-than-your-average-superhero-movie cast and a wave of goodwill for headliner Robert Downey Jr., “Iron Man” is the Hillary Clinton of this race, racking up a lot of early buzz and momentum as it rockets through this weekend’s opening. (See review on page 62.) But it’s hard to bet against the triumvirate of Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas—the execrable “Temple of Doom” and so-so “Last Crusade” notwithstanding. Almost three decades’ worth of fond memories for the classic “Raiders of the Lost Ark” makes “Crystal Skull” a hard kingdom to conquer.
IRON MAN: Out now
INDIANA JONES: May 22
THE WINNER: INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
II. SUPERHERO FRANCHISE EXTENSION
THE CONTEST: Like “The Incredible Hulk” is the second movie to attempt to make the green-skinned giant a bankable franchise, and it’s a complete overhaul of its predecessor, Ang Lee’s murky 2003 “Hulk.” New stars (Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth), new director (Louis Leterrier), new problems—a well-publicized tiff between Norton and the studio has planted seeds of doubt before the film even opens. “The Dark Knight,” meanwhile, comes on the heels of 2005’s successful “Batman Begins” reboot, and the late Heath Ledger’s turn as the Joker gives the sequel an added must-see boost.
HULK: June 13
THE DARK KNIGHT: July 18
THE WINNER: THE DARK KNIGHT
III. ENSEMBLE CHICK FLICK
SEX AND THE CITY vs. THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2
THE CONTEST: Two movies about four women dealing with life and love—but one focuses on women in their 40s, the other on young ladies navigating, well, young ladyhood. “Traveling Pants” has “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively and America Ferrara from “Ugly Betty,” while of the “Sex” gals, only star Sarah Jessica Parker has sustained a consistent career since the HBO series ended. Still, while “Pants” should grab the younger crowd, “Sex” enjoys cachet across different age groups—and the R-rated license to boldly go where the decidedly less-raunchy “Sisterhood” can’t.
SEX: May 30
PANTS: Aug. 8
THE WINNER: SEX AND THE CITY
IV. ACTION MOVIE WITH UNLIKELIEST ACTION HERO
SPEED RACER vs. WANTED
THE CONTEST: Fresh-faced Emile Hirsch and James McAvoy—neither really comes to mind when you think “action flick.” Luckily for McAvoy, “Wanted”—based on a violent comic-book miniseries—also features Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman, and casts the “Atonement” star as a reluctant addition to an international group of assassins. But “Speed Racer,” despite a decidedly less-exciting cast (Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon), has the nostalgia factor on its side, not to mention the prestige of the enigmatic Wachowski Brothers (“The Matrix”), so it should edge past “Wanted” by a nose.
SPEED RACER: May 9
WANTED: June 27
THE WINNER: SPEED RACER
V. FANTASY FRANCHISE EXTENSION
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN vs. STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
THE CONTEST: Who are we kidding? “Prince Caspian” reunites the four relative unknowns of the first “Narnia” movie, and since there are no other books in the C.S. Lewis series that feature all four siblings, the series’ future is cloudy at best. “The Clone Wars,” meanwhile, is a “Star Wars” film, fills in the gaps between “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” and kicks off an animated TV series, to boot. Please—it’s not even close.
NARNIA: May 16
STAR WARS: Aug. 15
THE WINNER: STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
VI. SUPERNATURAL COMEBACK VEHICLE
THE HAPPENING vs. THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
THE CONTEST: Actually, we don’t know whether “The Happening,” M. Night Shyamalan’s “environmental nightmare,” has any supernatural elements. But after “The Lady in the Water,” the director could use some paranormal help in getting back on track. The upcoming “X-Files” movie enjoys a built-in fan base, although lingering memories of the show’s final season could provide a speed bump, and the idea of sullen stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson sharing a rumored love scene is scarier than any threat the dour duo might face.
HAPPENING: June 13
X-FILES: July 25
THE WINNER: THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
VII. BRENDAN FRASER COMEBACK VEHICLE
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH vs. THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
THE CONTEST: It’s been awhile since Brendan Fraser’s starred in a family-friendly action-adventure movie—now he’s starring in two in one month. “Journey” is a 3-D extravaganza that finds Fraser on a voyage to—well, the center of the Earth. The third “Mummy” movie, meanwhile, features a new director (Rob Cohen), a new leading lady (Maria Bello replaces Rachel Weisz) and a 21-year-old son (looks like things leap forward a few years from 2001’s “The Mummy Returns”). One has 3-D; one has Jet Li. Otherwise …
JOURNEY: July 11
MUMMY: Aug. 1
THE WINNER: BRENDAN FRASER
VIII. COMEDY FACE-OFF
GET SMART vs. STEP BROTHERS
THE CONTEST: Director/producer Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”) lends his name to “Step Brothers,” which pairs Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (“Talladega Nights”) as grown men whose single parents marry, forcing them to live under the same roof as step-siblings. That high-concept premise feels a bit strained, and Ferrell in particular is perilously close to overexposure. “The Office” star Steve Carell (“The 40 Year Old Virgin”), on the other hand, seems born to play bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in an update of the classic Don Adams sitcom; if the execution matches the brilliant casting, Carell could have a franchise on his hands.
GET SMART: June 20
STEP BROTHERS: July 25
THE WINNER: GET SMART
IX. B-LIST SUPERHERO SMACKDOWN
HANCOCK vs. HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY
THE CONTEST: Guillermo del Toro scored a modest hit with 2004’s “Hellboy,” but he’s better known in some circles for 2006’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” and reports that have him helming the upcoming “Hobbit” adaptation. “Hellboy II” should hold onto the original’s audience and even attract some new viewers. But it’s bound to wilt in the shadow of “Hancock,” about an unlikable, alcoholic superhero—if only for the presence of Mr. July himself, Will Smith.
HANCOCK: July 2
HELLBOY: July 11
THE WINNER: HANCOCK
X. RETURN OF THE ANNOYING “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” STARS
THE LOVE GURU vs. YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN
THE CONTEST: Mike Myers returns to the big screen with “The Love Guru,” his first high-profile movie in ages to feature neither Austin Powers nor Shrek. He plays a spiritual leader determined to become the next Deepak Chopra, so we expect much of the same one-note muggery that made the “Powers” series so dreary. “Zohan,” meanwhile, features Adam Sandler as an Israeli commando turned hairdresser. That premise, at least, displays more wit than many of Sandler’s previous films, and since Zohan works for a Palestinian, there’s even room for some potential political controversy.
ZOHAN: June 6
GURU: June 20
THE WINNER: YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (by default)
10 more movies
- Made of Honor: Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan star in a “My Best Friend’s Wedding” knock-off. Out now.
- What Happens in Vegas: Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz get married in Vegas and have to learn to love each other. First, we have to learn to like them. May 9
- Son of Rambow: Two kids shoot a home-movie homage to Sylvester Stallone in this adorable and odd heartwarmer. May 16
- Kung Fu Panda: Jack Black as a panda who learns martial arts. ’Nuff said. June 6
- Wall-E: Pixar’s latest animated feature? The tale of a garbage-collecting robot in love in the far future—unspooled largely without words. Uh-huh. June 27
- Mamma Mia!: Meryl Streep headlines this adaptation of the stage musical based on the music of Abba. Unless Congress classifies it as a form of torture, expect it to open July 18.
- American Teen: This documentary following four high-school teens has garnered a lot of buzz. July 25
- Pineapple Express: Seth Rogen and James Franco star as stoners caught up in a murder. Aug. 8
- Tropic Thunder: Ben Stiller directs this comedy about a group of actors in a war movie thrust into danger. Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. star. Aug. 15
- Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Another collaboration between Scarlett Johansson and creepy old man Woody Allen, this time with Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in tow. Aug. 29
Gotta have more?
Try these fun festivals and film series:
THE COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL
The Fox Theatre’s annual movie festival returns with a mix of family fare, big-ticket dramas and timeless classics, packaged with the Fox’s elegant surroundings and of course the “Mighty Mo” organ. The June-July lineup is featured below, with seven additional films for August to be announced soon.
June 5: “Shine a Light,” 7:30 p.m.
June 8: “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!,” 2 p.m.; “Atonement,” 8 p.m.
June 17: “Casablanca,” 7:30 p.m.
June 18: “No Country for Old Men” (pictured), 7:30 p.m.
July 13: “Enchanted,” 2 p.m.; “Ben-Hur,” 7 p.m.
SCREEN ON THE GREEN
Atlanta’s communal outdoor movie festival moves from Piedmont Park to Centennial Olympic Park this year, with five consecutive Thursdays of family-friendly entertainment. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring picnic baskets, food, seats and blankets, but glass containers, alcoholic beverages, grills and pets are prohibited.
May 29: “Jaws”
June 5: “Big Momma’s House”
June 12: “Chicago”(pictured)
June 19: “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”
June 26: Viewers’ Choice: “Back to the Future,” “Rocky” or “Footloose”
HIGH MUSEUM OF ART
The High has two film festivals premiering this week: The Film Festival of India, featuring “The Voyeurs,” “Before the Rains,” “Eclipse,” “Outsourced” and “Amal,” runs May 9-31.
Starring Javier Bardem, a series showcasing the Oscar-winning star of “No Country for Old Men,” runs May 8-June 26 with screenings of “Before Night Falls,” “Live Flesh,” “The Sea Inside” and “Mondays in the Sun.” For schedules and other information, visit www.high.org/experience/films.
THE PLAZA THEATRE
The independent Midtown movie house, known for its fun programming events, presents a season of special screenings:
May 13: “Last House on the Left”
May 16: “Eraserhead”—a brand new reprint re-released by David Lynch
June 6 & 7: “Grease” sing-along
June 10: “Return of the Living Dead”
June 28: “Forbidden Planet”
The Plaza also features a fun Summer Camp film series of campy classics:
May 20: “Barbarella” (pictured)
June 27: “Some Like it Hot”
July 22: “Xanadu”